Congressmen Mike Turner (OH-10) and Evan Jenkins (WV-3) re-introduced the bipartisan CRIB Act today, the House companion bill to Senator Sherrod Brown (OH) and Rob Portman (OH)’s bill, to help cover the treatment costs of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a withdrawal condition in newborns caused by use of addictive substances by expecting mothers.

“We must fight for the most vulnerable victims of the opioid epidemic: newborns who through no fault of their own are brought into this world already addicted to drugs,” said Congressman Turner. “This bill will aid organizations that provide medical care for innocent drug-exposed newborns. Specifically, it will allow Medicaid to be used to reimburse medical facilities outside of hospitals that provide newborns with this important care. We are going to continue to fight for funding to address this issue of the heroin epidemic.”

“Suffering through withdrawal from exposure to heroin and other opioids is a horrific way to start one’s life, but that’s the reality for many newborns in West Virginia and across the country. These newborns need specialized care to help them recover from drug exposure before they were even born,” Congressman Jenkins said. “We can work together to cut red tape, fight the drug crisis, and ensure healthy lives for babies and children across our country.”

Congressman Turner has been fighting the opioid epidemic in Dayton since 2013:

  • December 18, 2013: Toured Soin Medical Center, where issue of Heroin-Exposed Newborns was raised.
  • March 10, 2014: Met with area hospitals to discuss the growing issue of Heroin-Exposed Newborns.
  • May 15, 2014: Visited Dayton Children’s Hospital NICU to discuss infant heroin exposure and the withdrawal and recovery process.
  • June 30, 2014: Held a Community Forum on the Effects of the Heroin Epidemic on Newborns.
  • August 27, 2014: Visited the Women’s Recovery Center.
  • May 2015: Held Community Summit on Heroin-Exposed Infants.
  • August 21, 2015: Toured Greene County Jail and Green Leaf Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program; met with criminal justice system administrators and substance abuse and mental health leadership.
  • November 18, 2015: Met with ONDCP Director Michael Botticelli and introduced the TREAT Act with Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-3).
  • May 12, 2016: The House passed an amendment he cosponsored to increase access to treatment for pregnant women struggling with substance abuse.
  • May 25, 2016: Introduced CRIB Act to help expand access to specialized treatment and recovery options for infants suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a withdrawal condition in newborns often caused by use of opioids and other addictive substances in pregnant women.
  • August 29, 2016: Hosted a Heroin Epidemic Response Roundtable with Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05).
  • October 28, 2016: Hosted a roundtable discussion on the opioid and heroin epidemic in Dayton with Senator Rob Portman (OH).
  • February 2, 2017: Joined the bipartisan Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus.
  • February 7, 2017: Reintroduced the TREAT Act.

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